SlowpokeBlogCommentary by Slowpoke cartoonist Jen SorensenMonday, April 25, 2005Kerry Signs and Freedom
A reader wrote me about last week's cartoon, which included a character who refused to take down her Kerry sign (along with a footnote saying "see also the cartoonist").
I'm not surprised that you refuse to remove your sign. And that certainly is your right, one that I would fight and die for, would you do the same?I've heard shades of this comment before, usually something along the lines of: "You criticize this country, but at least you're free to do so here, unlike other places." To which I say, thank goodness. But also: if you think the Radical Reich has actually been fighting for my freedom to draw political cartoons, you are a gigantic butthead. Let's be clear. The Iraq war has nothing to do with my freedom of expression. Can we please all agree on the simple fact that it was fought for strategic reasons -- namely, establishing military bases, projecting American power in the Middle East, and maintaining long-term influence over the flow of oil? Secondly, do not even get me started on the Bush rallies where attendees must sign loyalty oaths and anyone wearing a Kerry t-shirt is forcibly removed, if not arrested. This is the most dissent-quashing administration in modern US history. So spare me the absurd argument that Bush is somehow a champion of the First Amendment. Notice also the invocation of patriotism in the e-mail cited above. I may keep my Kerry sign up, but am I willing to fight for my country? My response: You are confused. Bush is not America, and keeping my sign up is a way (however miniscule) of fighting for my country. Side note: use of the term "Radical Reich" inspired by this fine blog I recently came across. Links to this post:ARCHIVES 01/01/2004 - 02/01/2004 02/01/2004 - 03/01/2004 03/01/2004 - 04/01/2004 04/01/2004 - 05/01/2004 05/01/2004 - 06/01/2004 06/01/2004 - 07/01/2004 07/01/2004 - 08/01/2004 08/01/2004 - 09/01/2004 09/01/2004 - 10/01/2004 10/01/2004 - 11/01/2004 11/01/2004 - 12/01/2004 12/01/2004 - 01/01/2005 01/01/2005 - 02/01/2005 02/01/2005 - 03/01/2005 03/01/2005 - 04/01/2005 04/01/2005 - 05/01/2005 05/01/2005 - 06/01/2005 06/01/2005 - 07/01/2005 07/01/2005 - 08/01/2005 08/01/2005 - 09/01/2005 09/01/2005 - 10/01/2005 10/01/2005 - 11/01/2005 11/01/2005 - 12/01/2005 12/01/2005 - 01/01/2006 01/01/2006 - 02/01/2006 02/01/2006 - 03/01/2006 03/01/2006 - 04/01/2006 04/01/2006 - 05/01/2006 05/01/2006 - 06/01/2006 06/01/2006 - 07/01/2006 07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006 08/01/2006 - 09/01/2006 09/01/2006 - 10/01/2006 10/01/2006 - 11/01/2006 11/01/2006 - 12/01/2006 12/01/2006 - 01/01/2007 01/01/2007 - 02/01/2007 02/01/2007 - 03/01/2007 03/01/2007 - 04/01/2007 04/01/2007 - 05/01/2007 05/01/2007 - 06/01/2007 06/01/2007 - 07/01/2007 07/01/2007 - 08/01/2007 08/01/2007 - 09/01/2007 09/01/2007 - 10/01/2007 10/01/2007 - 11/01/2007 11/01/2007 - 12/01/2007 12/01/2007 - 01/01/2008 01/01/2008 - 02/01/2008 02/01/2008 - 03/01/2008 03/01/2008 - 04/01/2008 04/01/2008 - 05/01/2008 05/01/2008 - 06/01/2008 06/01/2008 - 07/01/2008 07/01/2008 - 08/01/2008 |



